According to the poster, special guest Hans Condor will open the show. Condor is from Nashville, Tennessee, and he’ll be bringing his band: bassist Erik Holcombe, drummer Ryan “Best in the Biz” Sweeney, and guitarist Chazz Kaster.
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Japanese trio Guitar Wolf (ギターウルフ) recently headlined the Amsterdam Bar & Hall, in St Paul, on Thursday night (September 1st), promoting their new album T-Rex From a Tiny Space Yojouhan.

Busey

Opening up the show was local trio Busey (singer / guitarist Daniel Berndt, drummer Ryan Keyes, and bassist Ryan Wasleske), a band named after actor Gary Busey. They were a surprise appearance because they were not listed on the Leo Presents bill anywhere... but when we spoke to the band later, they said that they were confirmed since June, right around the time when the show was announced. Although Busey sounded metal, it is clear that they were actually big fans of Guitar Wolf, and it shows in their gratitude when they were booked to play with the Japanese band.

Songs on Busey’s brief 30-min set were in this order, ‘Good Boy’, ‘Basic Needs’ (a preview song from their forthcoming album), ‘Greg’s Friend’, ‘We Don’t Have That’, ‘Gank’ and set closer ‘No Other Reptiles Allowed’.

Hans Condor

Nashville’s Hans Condor was up next with one of the most energetic live rock & roll set we’ve seen.
The trio featured Charles “Chazz” Kaster as the raging main singer / guitarist (and apparently the “Birthday Boy” on Thursday night) with dreadlock Erik Holcombe on bass, and Ryan “Best in the Biz” Sweeney on drums.

Midway in their set, Kaster invited fans to come on stage. When a few enthusiastic fans took them up on the offer, Kaster asked, “Is that all I got?” After the song was played, one fan attempted to leave the stage (but was denied!). The fans continued to dance on stage afterwards.

Near the end, their show went a little chaotic, with Kaster throwing his guitar to a fan in the audience and then started a one-man mosh pit in the front.

Hans Condor did impress us, and we can only imagine how insane their show might be if they were playing a massive music festival.

Guitar Wolf, the self-proclaimed coolest band in the world, took the stage to several Ramones songs. It’s obvious that the rockabilly-looking band was inspired by the American punk rock band. In fact, with other outro songs used (Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode’, Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’, and The Runaways’ ‘Cherry Bomb’), the band is truly in love with American music.

Having Minneapolis / St Paul on Guitar Wolf’s regular tour itinerary since 2012 is a small blessing, because, as far as I know, Guitar Wolf’s prior appearance was with the Cramps in November 1997.

Joining singer / guitarist Seiji on stage was Bass Wolf U.G. (who has been with the band since the passing of the original Bass Wolf Billy in 2002) and original Drum Wolf Toru. The trio showed up in Tyrannosaurus Rex masks, in keeping with the theme of their new album T-Rex From a Tiny Space Yojouhan. After some T-Rex claw poses, Seiji opened up a can of beer and drank through the mask. After the drink, the show can really begin.

The masks weren’t the only props used, before ‘Ninja Season’, Seiji would wear a straw hat and then later in the song, he would bring out a fire wallet. It still doesn’t really live up to the more dangerous flaming microphone (as seen in the film Wild Zero), but it was still fun to see.

Midway in their set, Guitar Wolf covered Eddie Cochran’s ‘Summertime Blues’, but adding their Japanese lyrics and take to the song. When we later talk to singer Seiji and mentioned that Cochran was born in Minnesota (but later moved to California), Seiji seemed excited and surprised, “Ooh!?”

Near the end of their show, Seiji would often theatrically pull fans on stage to hand over his guitar. In an overdramatic fashion, he would empower the fan to play music. During this time, it freed Seiji’s hands to sing with the microphone stand up in their air, or gave him the option to body surf!

Also, it would seem that Guitar Wolf’s catchphrase “Rock and Roll” may be one of the few English words the audience understood. There was somewhat of a language barrier, first with Seiji asking a fan (with earplugs), if his ears were okay. Then at the end, when Seiji tried to explain that he lived by a lake in Nagasaki. When he asked for a lake name here, someone in the audience said “Lake Calhoun”, which Seiji could not understand. He would still dedicate the last song to the lake.

In a typical Guitar Wolf show, the real fun is actually during the encore. After the second encore, he got fans to do the human pyramid (which was also done during their 2013 show at the Turf Club). For the true faithful fan who stuck around after the double encore, they were treated with a third and final encore.

Thursday, 26 November 2015

As for Keep Shelly in Athens, they are a chillwave duo (RΠЯ and Sarah P) from Athens. I thought their name was funky, considering that there's no Shelly in the band, but apparently they were named after the city Kypseli …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from December 1 to December 3, 2015.

Keep Shelly In Athens is back in Minneapolis this December 1st, supporting their second album Now I'm Ready (Friends of Friends). We previously caught the Greek band in October 2013 with Chad Valley, and described them as sounding like Portishead, but minus the trip-hop.

Since we last saw the band, Sarah P. stepped down as singer, and producer RΠЯ announced in 2014 that Myrtha will be taking her place. Their upcoming appearance will feature the new singer.

Chicago's G Herbo, formerly known as Lil Herb, will be stopping by the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on December 2nd, as part of his "The #BLINK Tour", featuring his buddies Zuse, MobSquad Nard, $KINNY, and JonRay.

Recently G Herbo released his highly anticipated mixtape, Ballin Like I'm Kobe (Cinematic Music Group/150 Dream Team), and also collaborated with Chicago rapper Lil Bibby for their song "Get 2 Bussin".

Japanese noise fans, be sure to catch experimental tribal noise collective OOIOO next Thursday at the Walker Art Center. As you know, we are big fans of Boredoms, and co-founder and drummer Yoshimi P-We is band leader for OOIOO.

We have been following Boredoms and other Japanese bands and we can confirm that it's very rare to see Japanese bands on U.S. soil... so you'll want to be there next Thursday at the William and Nadine McGuire Theater.

Show up early to catch a special set by Minnesota-based Javanese musician Joko Sutrisno and his Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble.

How the Walker Art Center described the show:

Catch a rare US appearance by the enigmatic Japanese avant-tribal-noise-pop collective OOIOO (oh-oh-eye-oh-oh). Under the intrepid leadership of Yoshimi P-We (cofounder of Japanese band Boredoms and the inspiration behind the Flaming Lips’s album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots) the group has subverted expectations and warped perceptions of what constitutes pop and experimental music since the mid-1990s. Simply put, “It’s rugged, inspired, original music” (New York Times). OOIOO perform their Minnesota debut on Thursday, December 3, 8 pm in the William and Nadine McGuire Theater.

The concert opens with a special set by Minnesota-based Javanese musician Joko Sutrisno and his Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble.

Having spent many times stopping in Minneapolis at smaller venues, like the 7th Street Entry, Silversun Pickups' Brian Aubert was amazed at the massive crowd for Rock the Garden, that he said, "This is a big deal!"
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Anyroad, before we get to Death Cab for Cutie, I have to explain that I've seen the band before in 2001 at the 7th Street Entry for $5. People who live in Minnesota know that the 7th Street is a tiny venue.
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Wow, Go 96.3 continued to book some of the best shows in town, and all for such an affordable price. They often book these shows, undercharging them, all in an effort to promote brand awareness of the new radio station. I think it's working, as every time they book a show, we are talking about it... and this upcoming double-night "Go96's Snow Show '15" is no exception.

Black Friday deal: for a limited time 11/25 to 11/27, you can get $10 off if you enter "YELP" at checkout.

I love Shonen Knife. The Osaka band announced their new album Overdrive to come out April 16th, 2014, via Good Charamel Records (for North America). The American market will get a yellow cover version, while the UK …

Opening up was L'Assassins, an-all-girl rock/punk-ish band who has a thing for black leather and faux leopard print. They played a lot of tracks, some from their recent 2013 album …

The CJ Ramone and Shonen Knife tour just came through the Twin Cities last Wednesday, June 10th, at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St Paul.

L'Assassins

Opening up the show was local all-girls surf/garage band L'Assassins, using the Amsterdam drum kit, played a mix of tracks from their three EPs, including their recent Kill Kill Kill! Bang Bang Bang!, featuring the title track.

What's actually more interesting is that they announced they were playing on the same bill as The Pandoras (an all-girls band that broke up in 1990 and now featuring Muffs singer Kim Shattuck), taking place July 25 at Turf Club. We're big Muffs fan, so it might be worth it to check out the show.

CJ Ramone

I would say that the terrific turn out (a good mix of very young 14 year olds to very old middle age punkers) to Wednesday's show was incredibly good. About half the audience was there for CJ Ramone, but in addition many of them were also crossover fans. While some people may think this just merely a The Ramones cover band, I have to disagree and as one of the few surviving Ramones band member, you have to give him a free pass. Many of the younger fans in the crowd have never had a chance to see the legendary band, so seeing CJ Ramone perform some of these classic songs, it was the next best thing.

As you can see from his setlist, the first half of the set was devoted to original CJ Ramone materials and the second half of the set was a tribute to the Ramones. Obviously, the second half of the set was a blast to hear... especially with their dedicated painter, also bopping and painting along by the front of the stage.

Some interesting notes about CJ's set, apparently in the 12 years that he played with the band, they never once play love songs (CJ said that was because all their love songs were written by Joey about Johnny's wife). Now that he can play whatever song he wanted, he chose to play "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend".

Highlight of their set was "Blitzkrieg Bop", which instantly got everyone moshing and slam dancing to the tune.

This is a great double bill for Shonen Knife, who sometime play as Ramones tribute band The Osaka Ramones.
It's been a while since we as
saw the band in 2009, but it would seem that they've reunited with original bassist Atsuko Yamano... who is temporary replacing Ritsuko Taneda on her maternity leave. This was a unique opportunity for non-Los Angeles fans to see Atsuko performing on bass for the first time in nearly a decade.

Setlist

As you can see from their setlist, it was written in Japanese, making it a challenge to decipher what they played.
I believe this is their correct set, based on my notes and with a help of friend.

Interestingly enough, only a few tracks from their latest Overdrive were played... and only in a block near the end of their set.
The new songs were all inspired by 70s hard rock, according to singer Naoko Yamano.

In typical Shonen Knife fashion, the band is often doing synchronized guitar poses and often flashing the peace sign.

This is an excellent band pairing, check out the continuing tour, which is taking place tonight in Nashville.

Shonen Knife's latest Overdrive is out now on Good Charamel. CJ Ramone's Last Chance to Dance is also out now on Fat Wreck Chords.

Sunday, 03 May 2015

Superhero Japanese punk band Peelander-Z is currently on tour in support of their latest album, Metalander-Z, stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul last night, September 19th.
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What the heck happened to the Peelander-Z's Official Wizard World Minneapolis After Party show at the Pourhouse last night??!!!???

After just 25 minutes, the venue cut off the band's instruments!! Everyone in the audience and the band looked incredibly puzzled by the shutdown. The fans were screaming "One more song! One more song!" and Pink replied, "If only we could, but they won't let us play!"

I couldn't get an answer why the show was canceled at 11:15pm. The only thing I can think of is that they had another event scheduled at 11:30pm and needed to push everyone out.

For new fans in attendance, what they got was just a small, small taste of the mad world of pots & pans, exercising and limbo/jump rope and just two songs: "So Many Mike" and "Mad Tiger". I'm really bummed out that they didn't get to experience a real Peelander-Z show. This was my eighth time seeing the band live and it was the most disappointed show because of the unexpected truncated show. I felt really bad for anyone that paid a cover charge to see them last night and only got about 20 minutes worth of a show.

Peelander-Z just announced their full nationwide tour for Metalander-Z. We previously saw them tour last year, and I noted that they didn't play that many songs from the album. I guess that was just the preview, I'm going to expect to hear more Metalander-Z on this upcoming show, because I have to tell you: their new album is good (if you like hair metal)!

We have been covering Peelander-Z since 2009 and we've seen them a million times. One thing is always a constant at their shows: fans have fun, dancing and singing and interacting with Peelander-Z. If you have never been to a show, you really need to check them out.

Let's get one thing straight: Shonen Knife is still adorable, they still try and sound like the Japanese Ramones band, and, yes, they still love singing and eating food. Shonen Knife is all that at the 7th Street Entry …

I love Shonen Knife. The Osaka band announced their new album Overdrive to come out April 16th, 2014, via Good Charamel Records (for North America). The American market will get a yellow cover version, while the UK and Japan will get Green and Blue covers, respectively.
The new album is said to be influenced by 70s rock.

Expect the all-girl trio to 'ride the rocket' to America sometime this year, after they play Europe and Japan, of course:

In case you haven't noticed, early next month mark The Beatles' 50th Anniversary in America. The two surviving Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, will likely 'come together' on David Letterman …

It's been Beatlesmania again this whole week in February, as Americans celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles in America. I have previously mentioned, I didn't understand why this was "a thing". I've backtracked a little now: the Beatles experience in America is unique to our country and 50 years ago was indeed an important landmark in American music.

If you have nothing going on tonight (February 8th), head over to the Cake Shop in New York at midnight to catch The Clover, an all-girl band that exclusively just cover The Beatles' music. The Japanese band recently just played Freddy's Bar in NY as part of the Beatles celebration.

NOTE: As Lara previously mentioned, the Cake Shop is a tiny, tiny venue. She showed up to a show for CMJ and couldn't get in because it was easily at full capacity with fifty people.... So show up early.

Legendary cool Japanese band Guitar Wolf will be back in the US & Canada this fall in support of their 12" vinyl of Beast Vibrator. If you can make it to one of their live tour dates, the vinyl is available online, including guitarwolfshop.com.

This new "Tour Magma" throughout the U.S. is with The Coathangers (the all-girl band that I wrote about five years ago, comparing them to "Bikini Kill, the Slits, and other Riot Grrl-type bands") and Coward (a punk band from Nashville). I'm really looking forward to seeing all these bands live.

Yoshiki's double album Yoshiki Presents Eternal Melody is one of Japan's top-selling classical albums, and he is back with Yoshiki Classical. The new album features his collaboration with legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo City Philharmonic Symphony and the Quartet San Francisco. It was supposed to have been released last month, but due to a controversial "skeleton album art", the album has been delayed to next week, September 24th.

It's kind of interesting to see classical musicians in today's environment, but there is definitely a market for this - considering that
Olafur Arnalds does well and Japan's Yoshiki selling out his debut solo performance in Los Angeles last month at The Grammy Museum.

Saturday, 17 March 2012

Just to let you know, W♥M Radio is available on iTunes. You can find it by searching for "we heart music" on its podcast section. In an upcoming show (to be posted on next week?), Sally and I did talk a little about Guitar Wolf.

Also, in anticipation and excitement for Guitar Wolf to come to Minneapolis, for their "Alien Action Tour 2012", I've put up a screen print from the movie, "Wild Zero".

Check out the tour trailer below, check with guitarwolf.net for the latest updates. You can grab the strictly limited US pressing of the 10" EP "Jet Satisfaction" only available on tour. I may pick up an extra copy for my brother.

My brother thinks these guys are cool. They are a really successful "asian" high energy dance/hip hop band that opened up for Lady Gaga about two years ago. They also have the misfortunate acronym of "FEM", which they have been using "FM" (for frequency modulation) instead.

I read that their single, "Live My Life" is enjoying radio airplay. Also, check it out, you can hear FM's theme song for the anime "Monsuno" every Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Nicktoons.

Speaking of the Guardian, the newspaper called Avec Avec's music "one of the most joyous sounds to come out of Japan" (link).

Osaka's Avec Avec, whose real name is Takuma Hosokawa, his latest release is Plastic Soul Redux (released January 24th, 2012). I did to the 4-track EP, which sounds like a mashup of interesting warpy twitchy sounds. The most accessible song on the EP is "Jimmys".

If you like that sort of thing, you can pick up the record at mushrecords.com.

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's called "The Playbutton." It is basically a small button (or as the UK calls them, badges) that clips on your garment. What makes it cool is that it's actually an MP3 player with possibly a tiny flash chip containing 12 audio tracks. I think this is the first of many Playbuttons to come, this particular compilation features 12 Japanese experimental/electronic artists.

The compilation is an effort to help residents of North-Eastern Japan recover from the Tsunami that hit the coast on March 11th, 2011. They hope to build houses for the people of Japan.

Guess what? They have a new album out on April 10th called Space Vacation, via Chicken Ranch Records, and you can preview their first single, "Star Bowling", over at Soundcloud.

Space Vacation will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital, plus: fans will want the special collector's edition, which comes with a DVD and a limited edition Peelander–Z comic book featuring artwork by John Holmstrom (famous for illustrating the covers of The Ramones albums Rocket to Russia and Road To Ruin).

No surprise, but they are on tour – see them at SXSW! Bring the kids, they'll love them!

Erik Luebs is better known as his stage name, Magical Mistakes. Last year, the guy packed up his bags and went to live in a small village in Japan. His current music involves vibraphones, xylophones, piano, guitars, drums, voice, and "found sound".

His latest EP is called Special Friends, and you can hear it on his website.

Thursday, 30 June 2011

You all remember Duncan Sheik, he found massive success with his single "Barely Breathing" from his self-titled debut album from Atlantic Records. He won a Grammy for "Best Male Vocal Performance, Pop", you know, no big deal.

So it's been a while, but Duncan Sheik returns to pop music, and it's obvious that Sheik wears his influences on his sleeve with his all covers album, Covers 80s (released earlier this month via Sneaky Records). I can only imagine that Sheik is a bit of an anglophile, considering the artists covered here: The Cure, The Smiths, Howard Jones, Love & Rockets, Tears for Fears, Japan, Talk Talk, Blue Nile, The Psychedelic Furs, Depeche Mode, Thompson Twins, New Order. No Cyndi Lauper, no Madonna, no cheesy Def Leppard.

I can tell that Sheik loves these songs, it really shows in his covers, and especially the song choices. The Smiths' "William, It Was Really Nothing" isn't one of their more popular songs, and even the almost-random The Blue Nile (from Glasgow) song, "Stay" doesn't quite belong, but he loves it enough to include it on the album. The pronunciation is a little off on the Smiths cover, it sounds like Duncan is saying "Willie-um", which may be a disservice to one Steven Patrick Morrissey.

If you like 80s synth, which many of these artists are, especially Depeche Mode, Howard Jones, and Japan, you may be disappointed that the synthesizers are nowhere to be found on Duncan Sheik's covers... which are more low-key. This is a good thing, in my opinion. Sheik is trying to put his own spin on these songs, and like or hate it, I feel it's the right course.

Other notable mentions is that Holly Brook and Rachael Yamagata appears on the record. I am assuming that is Yamagata singing with Sheik on "Shout" and Brook on "Hold Me Now", which is my favorite cover on the album.

Yeah, you know the story. I think these guys are great, calling them top for 2008, and to this day, I sometime hear "Around the Bend" at clubs - which is pretty amazing how far the band's come.

I finally got a copy of The Golden Age EP for review. Guess what? The Asteroids Galaxy Tour covered "Safety Dance", what perfect timing since I just saw Men Without Hats (they are still alive and breathing). The Asteroids Galaxy Tour's version has a bit more horns and that unique Danish vocals from Mette Lindberg. Their version doesn't take into account the extended remix, but that's just fine, it's a perfect pop song.

As for the rest of the EP, lots of horns, giving it a more 70s flavor to it. It is obvious to me that these songs are meant for the dance floor, especially for "Fantasy Friend Forever" and "Safety Dance" cover ("because if your friends don't dance...") If you don't believe me, listen for yourself on their soundcloud set. If video's your poison, their 2+ million youtube video is 70s spectacular: one-eyed villain, kungfu and a spy flutist (yes, it's also a Heineken commercial).

I love covers and I love the Smiths, and if my math is right, I should love all Smiths covers. That isn't always the case, especially when I heard Emily Browning's "Sing Me To Sleep" on the awful, awful, awful Sucker Punch movie. The song is about suicide, hearing it as a pop song is just.... but anyway, Stranded Horse's cover of "What Difference Does It Make" is actually pretty good. If you listen to it (available as a free download at soundcloud.com), it's basically deconstructed to just singer Yann Tambour's vocals and plucky kora acoustics. It has a very medieval/madrigal feel to whole thing.

Stranded Horse is not actually not a brand new band, it's just shorten from his ex-band, "Thee, Stranded Horse", and just to give you a little background on Tambour, he is French, but based on the Smiths cover and And The Shoreline It Withdrew In Anger, his English is impeccable. His latest album, Humbling Tides was written and recorded in Bristol, UK, but he is returning and touring to France this Fall:

Their best of album, strangely titled Best of I AM LOVEDRUG is not really a best of Lovedrug, but a best of covers by "I Am Lovedrug". I know, it's confusing.

You can see the songs covered for yourself at freefallmediagroup.net, the album is available now (June 28th). You can download their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" for free via their Facebook-thingy.

We also discuss what's in store for the future: including some release of obscure Stax Records an...

Love Psychedelico is about to make their American debut with This is Love Psychedelico on one of my favorite record label, Hacktone Records.

I've previously mentioned them before, but to brush up, they are basically two people: singer Kumi and guitarist Naoki Sato. The band's been around since 1997 and have sold over four million records in Japan and even sold out the 14,201 seated Nippon Budokan several nights in a row, so this band is pretty massive.

Unlike typical bubble gum and manufactured J-Pop (usually centers around really cute young groups of girls or boys), this band is very 60s and 70s style rock n roll. I also have to point out that they sing in both English and Japanese, but their English lyrics makes sense and add function to their songs.

With the exception of "Fantastic World", Hacktone's This is Love Psychedelico does a fantastic, for a lack of a better word, collecting 12 tracks from their first three albums.

I love their early work from The Greatest Hits ("Lady Madonna", "Your Song", "Last Smile", "These Days", and "A Day For You"), which seems more drenched in classic 60s rock. Take that amazing guitar repeating riff from their debut single, "Lady Madonna", which only adds to the groove as Kumi sings.

I am including "Standing Bird", which opens up the album Love Psychedelic Orchestra as well as this latest American compilation album. The guitar playing makes up in hooking you in, despite teh few English lyrics that appears on the second half of the song.

Since they seem to really be into love and peace and into art as well, I thought it would be nice if I drew a portrait of the two - based on their wallpaper.

Still not convinced? Head over to their American website, thisislovepsychedelico.com, as they have the entire album streaming. This is Love Psychedelico is out on May 20th on Hacktone Records, you can pick it up at any record store, including Amazon.